Rotary wheel trenching machine



April 14, 1942 V. s. PENOTE ET AL 2,280,004

ROTARY WHEELTRENCHKING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 13, 1939 n M w 2 Sheets-Sheet l TToRNEYs vl s. PENOTE Erm.

` ROTARY WHEELTRENCHING MACHINE `vAp'ril' 14, 1942.

original Filed on. 1:5-,- 1939 2 sheetssheet 2 Q @Si d 11 Patented `Aprr14, 1942 ROTARY WHEEL. TRNCHING MAomNE Vincent S. `Penote, Cleveland, `and Albert R.-

Askue, Mentor, Ohio, assignors to The ClevelandTrencher Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio `Original application October 13, 1939, Serial YNo..

299,306. Divided and this 1940, Serial No.333,480

` o2 claims. (ci. s7-97) This invention relates to an .improvedtrench digging machine and is a division of `our copending. application for Letters Patent filed `October 413, 1939, and assigned Serial No. 299,306. The

present invention is particularly concerned with an improved digging mechanism for a trenching of the present invention.

l .Another object of this invention is the pro- .vision of a trenchdigging machine which will be especially adapted forthe digging of comparatively narrow trenches under restricted space conditions, as for instance, between the machine. "I'his, therefore, isthe general object curb and sidewalk in cities, towns, villages where obstructions such as treestelephone poles and the like make machine digging extremely dimcult. m

A further object of this invention is toV provide atrench digging machine of the wheel type with "an improved digging wheel and wheelv driving and supporting mechanism. i

1 A more specific object of thisinvention is to provide an improveddigging wheel for a trench digging machine which will reduce the overall width of the structural sections of the wheel entering the trench during the digging operation and `thereby enable the digging of relatively narrow trenches.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.- in which we .have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. The novel `and essential characteristics of the invention will be summarized in the claims. `In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a trench digging machine constructed in accord with the-present invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine illustratedgin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is afragmentary transverse sectional View of the machine, the plane of thesection being indicated by the lines3`3 on Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is application May 6,

therefrom. Suitable driving mechanism (not shown) but operatively connected with the motor is provided to actuate the tractor belts and propel the machine, as well as to raise and lower the supplemental frame` I5 and digging wheel on the guideway I4. In Fig. 1 the supplementalframe and` digging wheel is shown in full lines in a `raised position,y andis indicated by dotted lines in a lowered or digging position. A detailed description of such a trenching machine, together with; the propelling and wheel raising and low` ering mechanisms `will be found by reference to our copending application heretofore referred to.

The supplemental frame I5 which supports the digging unit, comprises a pair of substantially longitudinally extending, spaced frame members 28 which3are secured together at their opposite ends by suitable `cross-frame members 29.( At its forward end the frame I5 is pivotally connected, as at Il, to a carriage I8, which is slidably mounted for movement in the guideway Ill.` The carriage I8 is provided adjacent its upper and lower ends with rollers I9, arranged to engage trackways20 secured to the guideway. The supplemental frame, together with the digging unit carried thereby is raised and lowered in the guideway I4 to regulate the depth of cut to be made by the digging unit as well as to (raise such unit clear of the ground to facilitate `the transportation ofthe machine from place tov place. This may be accomplished by any type of mechanism desired. However, we prefer to use the mechanismshown, described and claimed in our copending application heretofore mentioned. Briefly, such mechanism contemplates supporte, ing the outer end of the supplemental frame I5` by a pair-of cables 22. As illustrated, each of thev cables have one` endsecured to the guideway I4, as indicated at 23. From thepoints 23 each cable passes around respective sheaves 2l which are l mounted` on the carriage to respective sheaves 24.

a vertical section as indicated bythe lines`4--4 on Fig. 1.

Referring now tov the` drawings, `and particularly to Fig. 1, the trench digging machine `with which the present invention has been illustrated preferably comprises a frame I0, supported by a pair of spaced tractor belts II. `Mounted on The sheaves 24 are pivotally attached to the rearward end ofthe frame I5. From the sheaves` 24 each cable 22 passes forwardly as at`25 and `is secured to the upper portion of the carriage to which the inner end of the digging wheel frame is pivoted.

The raising and` lowering of the supplemental,V frame I5, together with the digging unit or wheel 26, is `accomplished by a single operating means. As shownin `Fig. 4, a hydraulic cylinder 301s secured to the frame IIJ and extends upward in the guideway I4. Suitable conduits 3| lead from this cylinder to a hydraulic pump 33 which is wise `of the guideway and extendsrearwardly driven. by ,the motor '1in any Suitable manner.

A valve mechanism controlled by a lever 32 is interposed in the conduit 3l and controls the flow of fluid to and from the cylinder 30. The cylinder is provided with a piston (not shown) but the plunger 34 of which extends upward through the cylinder and is secured to the upper end of the carriage I8.

The operation of the hydraulic lift mechanism above described, will move the supplemental frame I5 and the digging wheel from the full line position shown in Fig. 1 to the dotted VVline position therein indicated, or vice versa. It is to be noted that the rearmost or outer end of the supplemental frame i5, during the lowering movement, will move at a greater rate of speed than the forward or pivot end. Thus when the wheel reaches substantially the position shown in dotted lines, the frame I5 will be substantially horizontal. Indeed, the arrangement is such that for all practical purposes the frame I5 will be substantially horizontal during most digging depths.

The improved digging wheel, with which the present invention is particularly concerned, comprises a pair of rotatably mounted metal rings 40. As shown in Figs. l and 3, these rings are maintained in spaced relation to each other by a plurality of digging buckets 4I. These buckets may comprise U-shaped metal plates, the ends of each which engage the periphery of the rings 4D. The buckets are preferably formed and secured to the rings as illustrated, described and claimed in Patent No. 1,927,323 issued to Vincent S. Penote, September 19, 1933. Briefly, the buckets are secured in position on the rings by bars 42 which are welded to the sides of the buckets and secured to the side of the rings by suitable bolts 43.

digging wheel rings 40 are maintained in contact L with the flanged members 45 and 47 by a pair of flanged wheels 4S carried by struts 49 which are secured to the frame I5. Thus the flanged wheels 45, 47 and 43 are spaced in a triangular formation about the inner periphery of the digging wheel, maintaining it in position relative to the supplemental frame I5.

Also mounted on ,the supplemental frame I5 and extending transversely thereof and through the digging wheel is a conveyor 50 for ejecting the material which drops from the digging buckets during the digging operation. As shown in the drawings, this conveyor is supported by frame members 5I which are secured to frame members 28 of the supplemental frame I5. The conveyor comprises a flexible belt 52 which is looped around the pulleys or drums 53 rotatably journalled at opposite ends of the conveyor frame 5I.

The material removed from the trench by buckets 4I is retained therein during the upward travel of the buckets (indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1) by a protecting plate 55. This plate is carried by the frame I5 and extends from the lower digging wheel supporting wheels 48 to a position substantially above rthe conveyor 5,0 and form the wheel.

bridges the gap between the two rings 4U which At its upper end the plate 55 is bent downwardly as indicated at 57 to guide the dug material from the buckets 4I onto the conveyor 50.

To insure ejection of the material from the digging buckets 4I, a bucket cleaner is provided. This cleaner is best shown in Fig. 1, and comprises a bar 60 pivoted as at 6I to framework 59 and maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 62.V The tension of this spring is such that under normal conditions the bar will be maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1, extending into the bucket, to cause material adhering thereto to be removed and fall onto the conveyor 55. If, however, any unforseen obstruction, such as, for instance, a large piece of rock, may become wedged in a bucket, the ejector Sil may swing clockwise about its pivot (Fig. 1)

and no damage will be done to either the ejector or any of the digging mechanisms.

The digging wheel is rotated by the motor i2. The motor I2 may be drivingly connected with the driven member of a differential gear mechanism unit, preferably through a suitable changespeed gear mechanism. For a detailed description of a preferred form of driving mechanism, reference may be had to our copending application, heretofore referred to. The differential driving unit is enclosed within a differential housing 75. rlhe driving or cross shafts 7I of this unit extend outwardly at either end of the housing 'I and are each provided with a sprocket wheel 7i. The sprocket wheels 7i are conv nected by respective driving chains 72 with a is maintained taut by a pair of idler sprockets 'I5 and 75. Each idler sprocket 75 engages its respective chain 72, as indicated in Fig. 1, and is rotatably supported by an axle 77 carried by the plunger 78, mounted in a housing 7.9. A suitable spring (not shown) but contained within the housing, acts to maintain the plunger and therefore the idler sprocket in its uppermost position. The other idler sprocket wheels, namely the sprocket wheels 76 ride on the top of the chain, as shown in Fig. 1. Each of these wheels are supported at one end of a lever 80, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the axle 'I7 which carries its respective idler sprocket 75 heretofore ascribed. suitable springs (not shown) but preferably carried by respective axles 77 act to maintain their respective sprockets 'I6 in contact with the chains 72.

As heretofore mentioned, the digging wheel is driven from the shaft 33. As shown in the drawings, a pair of spaced driving gears are drivingiy secured to the shaft 43 and are arranged to mesh with the teeth 9I formed on the outer surfaces of the respective rings 4B of the digging wheel.

To facilitate the digging of a comparatively narrow trench the teeth QI of the digging wheel comprise pins which are press fitted to the wheel, as .shown in Fig. 3, and thereafter welded in position, thus maintaining the overall width oi the wheel 'at a minimum.

The flanged member 41, heretofore mentioned as comprising one ofthe supports for the digging wheel, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 43 `and supports the Wheel so that its weight will not rest on the driving sprockets 90. As shown in the drawings, the flanged member 41 comprises a sleeve which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 43, intermediate the two driving gears 90. The sleeve is provided with a pair of end flanges 95, which rotatably engage annular recesses 96 formed in the adjacent driving gears. Each flange 95 is provided with a shoulder 91 against which the sides of the adjacent ring 40 of the digging wheel bears.

The arrangement above described is such that the ange supporting member 41'may rotate independently of the driving Wheels 90 and thus compensating for the difference in peripheral speeds of the inner periphery of the rings 40 and the peripheral speed of the pitch line of the driving pins 3| of the digging wheel. This construction greatly increases the life of all of the coacting parts, especially that of the driving gear 90 and the teeth `9| of the digging Wheel, thus permitting the teeth 9| to be permanently secured to the Wheel without reducing the life thereof. i

The conveyor mechanism is also driven from the shaft 43. As shown in Fig. 3, a sprocket Wheel is drivingly secured to the sprocket 13, heretofore described, and is connected vbya driving chain |0| with a sprocket |02 mounted on a stub shaft |03, journalled in a bearing |04 carried by one of the frame members 28 of the supplemental frame l5. The inner end of the shaft |03 is provided with a lbevelled gear .I 05 which meshes with a similarl bevelled gear |06 on a cross-shaft |01 journalled in a gear housing |08 carried by the conveyor frame 5|.

The housing |08 contains gearing to enable the rotation ofthe conveyor in either direction, that is, in the direction to move the material to either side of the trencher machine.

arranged to be moved, either into meshing engagement with a gear |09, on a shaft I0 carried by the housing, or with an idler or reversing gear which is also rotatably mounted in the housing, and which constantly meshes With a gear ||2, also secured to the'shaft ||0. The shaft ||0 is provided at its outer end withV a sprocket Wheel which is connected by a driving chain I3 with a sprocket wheel mounted on a shaft I4 which carries one pair of belt supporting rollers l53.

`The shifting of the gear ||5 above described, controls the direction of the movement of the belt 52 `and thus determines to which side of the machine the dirt is to vbe ejected. This is accomplished by the movement of the shift lever |20. As shown in Fig. 3, the lever |20 is pivotally connected as at |2| to a bracket |22, mounted on the gear box |08, and is connected by a link |23V with a plunger |24 slidably mounted in the gear box and arranged and adapted to coact with an annular recess |25 formed in the hub of the shiftable gear i5, to shift such gear into engagement With either the gear |09 or the gear as desired. The lever |20 may also be moved to position the shiftable gear ||5 to position intermediate the gears |09 and and thus enable the conveyor to be disconnected from the driving mechanism.

From kthe foregoing description, it will be seen that We have provided an efficient trenching machine having a digging Wheel which will 4be extremely rigid and have provided a wheel support v ery of both rings and provided with radially ex- As shown, :a gear |I5 is splined to the shaft |01 and is tending flanges to engage the outer faces of said rings, each ring having a plurality of driving teeth formations secured to its outer face, a pair of gears mounted on said shaft and arranged and adapted to engage said teeth formations, and wherein each of said gears overhang the flanges of said members whereby the teeth of such gears may embrace said rings and are protected by said member from strains set up by said Wheel.

2. In a trenching machine, a frame, a digging Wheel mounted therein, said wheel including a pair of coaxial spaced `annular rings, a shaft mounted on said frame and having its axis parallel to the axis of said rings, a member rotatably mounted on said shaft and having .annular portions to engage the periphery of respective rings,

'Y said members each being provided with outwardly and radially extending flanges to engage the outer faces of said rings, each ring having a plurality of pins individually secured in a cir-cular path to its outer face, a pair of gears drivingly mounted on said shaft and arranged and adapted to engage said pins to rotate said wheels and wherein the inner face of each of said gears is provided with an annular groove to receive the flanges of said members whereby the teeth of such gears may closely embrace said rings, and are protected by said members :against sidewise thrusts or due to inadvertent spreading of said rings.`

VINCENT S. PENOTE.

ALBERT R. ASKUE. 

